Why Vote for Us? | Pourquoi voter pour nous ?
African American Western Canadians have significantly shaped Canada since 1905. Our roots run deep. Initially marked by muskeg and dense forests, we cleared land and established homesteads, building churches, schools, and businesses for all. Many sought better economic opportunities, moving to urban areas and leaving churches and cemeteries abandoned.
The Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots discovered the neglected Empyrean Cemetery, once an integral part of one of Alberta's earliest Black Homesteader communities. This sacred ground has now been returned to descendants of those who endured hardships to achieve land ownership amidst Jim Crow restrictions in the U.S.
Our restoration plan includes clearing overgrowth, restoring headstones, installing signage, and creating an accessible memorial space.
Be a part of this historic restoration. Vote for our project today, help honour this legacy. Every vote and share bring us closer to preserving this vital chapter of Western Canada’s history.
"Nothing about us without us."
Our Project's Impact | Les effets de notre projet
Returning control of the cemetery to descendants of those interred profoundly impacts the Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots and the broader community. It restores a sense of pride, allowing Black families to reclaim a responsibility that was historically theirs.
Beautifying and clearing overgrown areas immediately transforms this sacred space, reducing the risk of misuse and ensuring a safer environment. Neglected properties often attract crime, pests, and vandalism, lowering surrounding property values and diminishing community pride. Restoring the Empyrean Cemetery—including clearing debris, restoring headstones, and adding interpretive signage—honours the resilience of Black homesteaders and safeguards their legacy.
Beyond aesthetics, this initiative enriches and strengthens community bonds. Collaborative security measures and neighbourhood watch efforts foster a shared commitment to protecting this historic site. Additionally, educational- programs highlighting the cemetery’s role in Alberta’s early Black settlements will boost cultural tourism, drawing visitors tracing their families’ journey north toward land ownership and citizenship rights.
This project is more than restoration— a movement to honour history and reclaim our rightful narrative. Join us in preserving this vital landmark. Your support ensures future generations understand the sacrifices and triumphs that shaped Canada.
"Nothing about us without us" as we honour, educate and celebrate community!
About This Place | À propos du lieu
The Empyrean Cemetery in Yellowhead County, Alberta, is a historic burial site for Indigenous Black and African American families, recognized as Canada’s first Black settlement in the prairies. It was founded in 1905 by the Imperial Baptist Church for the Junkins Black community and saw its last interment in 1957. As time passed, many original Black families relocated to cities, leading to the cemetery's abandonment for over 70 years. This neglect resulted in overgrowth and vandalism, prompting local volunteers to clear the excess trees and foliage, inadvertently removing all headstones except for one that marks ‘Mother Bessie Akers’ grave.
The Shiloh Centre for Multicultural Roots (SCMR) found the cemetery during a project and partnered with the Yellowhead Heritage Advisory Board to secure management rights.
An official reclamation ceremony took place at the site on October 4, 2024, and SCMR will soon assume full ownership.
To date, SCMR used ground-penetrating radar to identify 48 interments—46 in the cemetery, two outside its fence. Due to challenging terrain, the wooded areas remain unexamined. Winning the Last Great Save contest will help mark the identified interments, re-fence the area, clear the terrain, locate more burial plots, and secure the site for future generations.
